Adjusted 2025 F1 United States Grand Prix Starting Grid After Penalties
The stage is set for a thrilling showdown at the 2025 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix, as the grid order has been officially adjusted following post-qualifying penalties. After an intense qualifying session at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen will start from pole position, marking his seventh pole of the 2025 season and reinforcing his determination to close the championship gap to his McLaren rivals.
Verstappen was in commanding form during Saturday’s session, delivering a flawless performance under pressure to claim P1. The reigning world champion looked composed and confident throughout, setting the pace in every sector and showing that Red Bull’s recent upgrades are paying off. With the title race heating up, Verstappen’s start from the front gives him the perfect opportunity to take maximum points in Sunday’s main event.
Behind him, Lando Norris lines up in second for McLaren after outpacing his team-mate and championship rival Oscar Piastri, who could only manage sixth place in qualifying. Norris, who remains firmly in the title hunt, has consistently proven himself one of the strongest drivers in race trim this season. He’ll be aiming to challenge Verstappen into Turn 1 and potentially take the lead early on, capitalizing on McLaren’s strong race pace.
For Piastri, it was a less-than-ideal session. The Australian, who currently leads the drivers’ standings, struggled to extract full performance from his McLaren during Q3 and ended up P6. With Verstappen and Norris both starting ahead, Piastri faces a difficult task if he hopes to extend his narrow championship advantage. He’ll need to stay out of trouble in the opening laps and rely on strategy and consistency to climb back into podium contention.
A solid day for Ferrari sees Charles Leclerc start from third position, putting himself in prime position to challenge the front-runners. Leclerc’s qualifying performance was smooth and precise, and Ferrari’s pace improvement in recent rounds has been notable. Alongside him, George Russell starts fourth for Mercedes, continuing his strong run of form as the Silver Arrows find renewed competitiveness late in the season.
In fifth, Lewis Hamilton lines up just behind his Ferrari teammate. The seven-time world champion has been showing signs of rediscovered form in recent races, adapting well to the Ferrari setup after his blockbuster move from Mercedes earlier this year. With the Scuderia’s upgraded power unit and improved tire management, both Ferrari drivers could be major threats in the race, especially if they can stay close to the leaders in the opening stint.
Further down the grid, Kimi Antonelli continues to impress in his rookie campaign, starting seventh for Mercedes after a composed qualifying performance. Just behind him, Oliver Bearman secures eighth for Haas, giving the American team hope for a strong showing on home soil. Bearman’s progress this season has been remarkable, and a points finish would be a major achievement for both driver and team.
Carlos Sainz, now racing for Williams, will start ninth, while Fernando Alonso completes the top ten for Aston Martin. Alonso’s experience could play a critical role in helping Aston Martin recover from a difficult run of results in recent rounds.
In the midfield, Nico Hulkenberg (Stake) starts 11th, ahead of Liam Lawson (Racing Bulls) and Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull), who occupy 12th and 13th respectively. Tsunoda will be hoping for redemption after Friday’s disappointing Sprint Qualifying session, where a team communication error cost him a chance to advance.
The Alpine drivers, Pierre Gasly and rookie Franco Colapinto, line up 14th and 15th. Colapinto continues to gain valuable experience in his debut season, showing consistent improvement despite Alpine’s struggles with race pace. Behind them, Gabriel Bortoleto starts 16th for Stake, while Esteban Ocon finds himself down in 17th after a tricky qualifying session for Haas.
Alex Albon will begin from 18th for Williams after being unable to find the balance needed to advance past Q1. Just ahead of the back row, Lance Stroll has been demoted to 19th following a five-place grid penalty. The Canadian was penalized after a collision with Esteban Ocon during the Sprint race, a costly error that has set back his chances of scoring points in Austin.
At the very back of the grid, Isack Hadjar starts 20th. The Red Bull junior crashed heavily during Q1 and was unable to set a time. The incident brought out a red flag and ended his session early, leaving the young Frenchman with a challenging race ahead.
Despite the grid adjustments, the order remains provisional until officially confirmed by the FIA. Still, with Verstappen leading from pole and both McLarens and Ferraris within striking distance, fans can expect an electrifying race in Austin. The 2025 United States Grand Prix promises high stakes, fierce rivalries, and perhaps another decisive twist in what has been one of the most competitive Formula 1 seasons in years.
